TWO wounded New People’s Army (NPA) rebels are now under the care of the government in the province of Zamboanga del Sur.

This, as they surrendered Friday, July 8, to the military amid the continued combat operations against them in Zamboanga del Sur, according to Lieutenant Colonel Jo-ar Herrera, commander of the 53rd Infantry Battalion.

Herrera said that Nelyn Ayas alias Ka Clara and Jebbie Labito alias Ka Yuri are undergoing medical treatment at a government hospital.

Herrera said the two were injured in a clash with government forces on July 4 in Saad villge, Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur.

Both Ayas and Labito were members of the defunct Main Regional Guerrilla Unit of the NPA’s Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee, Herrera said.

He said that the surrender of Ayas and Labito is proof of the effective strategy adopted by the government against the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA in the province of Zamoanga del Sur.

Brigadier Gen Leonel Nicolas, Army's 102nd Infantry Brigade commander, said the two NPA surrenderers will be taken care of, regardless of being an enemy of the state forces.

“We will ensure that they will be medically taken care of and protected,” Nicolas said.

He said they will be enrolled in the program of the government known as the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-Clip).

He added that once the NPA surrenderers are enrolled, they will receive P15,000 immediate cash assistance and P50,000 livelihood assistance through the E-Clip. (SunStar Zamboanga)